Men's Basketball

Arch Madness Game 7: Bradley 53, Loyola 51

#5 Bradley (53), #1 Loyola (51)
 
MVC TOURNAMENT NOTES –This marks the sixth time the No. 5 seed has advanced to the championship of the MVC Tournament but first time since 2006 when Bradley knocked off then No. 1 seed Wichita State (60-52) in the semis to advance to the finals.
Bradley’s nine blocked shots in game ties for No. 4 on the single-game tournament blocked shot list.
 
BRADLEY WIN – The Braves, who have won eight of their last 10 games, improved to 19-14 while advancing to the championship of the MVC Tournament for the first time since 2006 when they ironically also were a #5 seed. Bradley improves its MVC Tournament record to 34-37, including a 7-13 record in semifinal round games, 2-9 record against the #1 seed and a 1-3 mark against Loyola. The Braves are now 36-27 against the Ramblers in the all-time series history and have won the season series against Loyola for the second time since Loyola joined the MVC in 2013.

LOYOLA LOSS – The Ramblers, who had a three-game winning streak snapped, fall to 20-13. Loyola sees its MVC Tournament record slip to 7-5 including a 3-1 mark against Bradley.

BRADLEY NOTES: Bradley held Loyola to .357 shooting (20/56), marking the 7th time this season BU has held a foe below 36 percent. Elijah Childs enjoyed his 10th career double-double (seventh this season) with 10 points and 11 rebounds. He had two blocked shots to pass Danny Granger (89; 2001-03), and Jeffrey Rabey (90; 1999-01), for fifth all-time in Bradley history with 91 career blocks Junior Nate Kennell  led Bradley with 19 points, while tying his season high with five treys.  It marked his fourth game this season with at least four treys.It also marked fifth time he’s led BU in scoring this season, 11th in career.
Darrell Brown, who averaged 18.5 in two games vs. Loyola, had all eight of his points in the last 10:16 minutes of the game. Luuk Van Bree tied his career high with three blocked shots.
 
LOYOLA NOTES—Loyola has now held its foe under under 55 points in MVC tourney history; the only time in the tourney it has happened. Cooper Kaifes led Loyola with 14 points, including 4 treys. It marks the fifth time he’s had four or more in a game. One week after beating Bradley 81-68, Loyola was held to 51 points; its fifth lowest total of the season. All-MVC Cameron Krutwig was held to a season-low 8 points.
 
FIRST HALF: The game was tied at 2, 4, 8 and 13. Cooper Kaifes off the bench to hit two long treys for Loyola (after going 2/9 from long range vs Bradley earlier, but Bradley’s Nate Kennell came in and matched those treys early. Eight minutes in, Loyola was .364 (4/11) from the floor and Bradley was .273 (3/11). Kennell followed his second trey with a two as BU moved ahead 18-13 with eight minutes left in the half. Kennell’s eight straight points came after he had just 4 vs. Missouri State Friday and he’s 3 of 4 from the floor after going 1/7 in two games vs. Loyola in regular season. Kennell’s third trey made it 21-13 at the 7-minute mark. Loyola’s scoring drought passed five minutes as the Ramblers had missed eight in a row before Clayton Custer scored with 4:20 left. Kennell had scored 13 Bradley points in a row but Custer added a three to get Loyola back within a point at 23-22 with two minutes left in the half. Bradley had seven blocked shots in the half after swatting away a total of three in two earlier meetings vs. Loyola. Bradley led 25-22 at halftime, hitting .385 (10/26) from the floor with Loyola at .310 (9/29). Kennell with 13 and Kaifes with 8 both off the bench were their team’s top scores in the first half and Bradley had a 20-16 rebound advantage. Cameron Krutwig of Loyola led all rebounders with 5. This ties the fewest points BU has allowed a foe in the first half in last nine games. Loyola is 3-9 when trailing at halftime and Bradley is 11-4 when leading at the half.   
 
SECOND HALF: Clayton Custer opened the second half with a trey out of the corner for a 25-25 tie and Aher Uguak put Loyola up with a bucket. The lead then changed hands three more times before Loyola moved ahead. Williamson by himself had outscored the BU team 8-6 the first eight minutes of the half. At the second rest stop, Loyola was .455 (5/11) from the floor for the half while Bradley was at .125 (2/16). Darrell Brown then scored twice in a row to push BU back in front 37-36 midway through the half. Then tied at 41 and 43, the game had seen seven ties and 11 lead changes. Bradley got two threes for a 49-43 edge. Kaifes hit a three with 1:40 left to pull Loyola within a point at 50-49. Nate Kennell then nailed his fifth trey of the game before Marques Townes scored to pull Loyola within 53-51. Bradley then used up three team fouls in the final half minute before putting Loyola in the bonus and the last Loyola shot rimmed off and the clock expired in the rebound scramble and the Braves had a 53-51 win.